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Rutte was the clear winner of last month's parliamentary
elections. Losing a vote of confidence would delay the formation
of a new coalition government and weaken his position as head of
the conservative VVD party.
The no-confidence vote was to take place later in the day, after
Rutte appeared in parliament to explain why he had told
reporters he had not discussed a political appointment for one
lawmaker, when it later emerged that he had.
Rutte denies having lied.
"I did not lie, I acted honourably and in good conscience",
Rutte said in parliament.
Talks on forming a new government were abruptly put on hold on
March 25 when one of the chief negotiators unwittingly revealed
a sensitive document to a news photographer as she rushed out of
parliament after learning that she had tested positive for
COVID-19.
The document showed that negotiators were discussing a position
"elsewhere" for MP Pieter Omtzigt, a prominent critic of Rutte's
previous Cabinet, though Omtzigt's Christian Democrats were a
coalition member.
Rutte told reporters on March 25 he had not been the one to
mention Omtzigt's position, but notes from talks given to
parliament this week showed he had in fact mentioned it.
(Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by John Stonestreet and
Hugh Lawson)
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